Celtic Gods: The Gaulish goddess, Bricta (The Highest)

Bricta
A Gaulish goddess: Highest

Bricta is a Gaulish deity known from a three inscriptions from France, England and Italy. Her name means 'The Highest' and it would indicate that she was a goddes of the 'protector of the tribe' type. Indeed, in the Blackmoorgate inscription she is named with Dis Pater.



Synonyms:
Gaul: The Highest

A Gaulish goddess known from an inscription at the hot springs of Luxueil, Haute-Saône, France where she is associated with Lusovius.

As Brixia she is known from Luxueil, Blackmoorgate in Derbyshire (where she is associated with Dis Pater, Hercules, Apollo and Arvalus. She is also known from Brescia, Italy where she is associated with Bergimus.

The goddess' name can be derived from the Celtic and Cymric root brig and the proto-Celtic root brigō; both meaning summit or 'highest', the intensive *-ati- (above) and the feminine ending -a. Her name can be rendered literally as 'She Who is Above the Summit' or simply 'Highest'. As such her name is etymologically linked to that of Brigit or Brigantia though she is probably not the same deity.

The association of this Goddess' name with Dis Pater and the interpretation of her name as meaning 'The Highest' stronly indicates that she was a deity of the 'mother of the tribe' or 'protector of the tribe' type.



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